Refrigerator door



May 24, 1927.

. vv. L vvrirrTlEFz v REFRIGERATOR DOOR 'Filed Jan.1;, 192e l] v lnuanm Sii /0 1002 Patented May 24', 1927.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H.' WHITTIER, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ELECTRIC REFRIGERATION CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A

CORPORATION F MICHIGAN.

BEFBIGERATOR noon.

Application led January 11, 1926. Serial No. 80,482.

This invention relates to a refrigerator door construction, being primarily concerned with the production of a refrigerator door having asanitary'lining between which and the door panel, a more effective heat insulation may be enclosed so that a more effective accomplishment of refrigeration purposes may be attained. The present con struction of door'is particularly valuable in connection' with refrigerators equipped with mechanical refrigerator apparatus, the refrigerator under such circumstances having its interior reduced to a lower degree of temperature than is obtained where ice alone is used for refrigerant purposes. Itis desirable that the inner side of the refrigerator door be equipped with porcelain covered metal inner lining, and it is one of the purposes of the present inventionto provide this lining and connect it to the door in a simple manner and at the same time provide a much better and more yeffective insulation against the entrance of heat into the refrigerator, Vthe insulation material being disposed between the lining and the door panel. The means by which I-have accomplishedy these results will appear fully and in detail as understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which, l

Fig. 1' shows in perspective the porcelain covered metal lining and the border mouldings whichare used therewith to secure the lining to the door, said elements of the construction being shown separated.

Fig. 2 is a erspective view of the lining with the bor er mouldings applied thereto' and with the heat insulation material lo- 40 cated within the pan which is made by the assembly' of the metal lining and border mouldings, parts being broken away andk shown in section for a better disclosure of the construction, and

Fig. `3 is an enlarged horizontal sectlon throughgthe completed door made 1n accordance with my invention.

Like reference characters refer to` like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

.Y In the construction of the' door, an outer panel 1 of wood is usedof a size larger than the door opening of the refrigerator, and it is on therear side of this panel that the lining, insulation materia-1 and border `mitered so that the same may be brought together inthe shape of a rectangular frame around the outer edges of the metal lining. The mouldings at their inner sides are formed with longitudinal slots 8 which are cut so as to conform to the curvature of the flanges 5, as indicated at 9, so that when the mouldings are applied tothe metal lining and brought .together to lmake a rectangular frame the flan es 5 seat in the slots 8 as best shown vin igs. 2 and .3..

The'members Gand 7, being of wood, are properly treated so as to be moisture proof,

preferably by application of paraffin before the same are applied to the metal lining.

Within the pan like enclosure made by the lining having the wood frame applied thereto, a block of insulation material l0 is placed. This insulation material is what is commercially known 'as cork board. In practice two sheets of paper, indicated at 10 in Fig. 3, may be located against the inner side'of the lining and the cork board located against the paper. The dimensions of the cork board insulation 10 are such that spaces are left between its sides and ends and the inner sides of the pan like enclosure, and the outer surface of the cork board lies below the surfaces of the members 6 and 7 of the enclosing frame. This space is completely filled kby pouring a melted asphalt` composition, indicated 4at 11, into the same, all of the interstices being completely filled and, as shown in Fi 3, 'the composition in its fluid state fitting into the slots or grooves 8 made inthe inner sides of the moulding and, in effect, locking the block of insula-` tion comprised of the cork board 10, paper 10 and compositionll, securely in place.-

When this has been done the entire assembly may be applied to the rear side of the panel 1. The application is simple consisting merely of placing it against the rear side of the panel and securing it in place by screws 12 which pass through the wood members 6 and 7 into the panel 1 of the door.

As thus constructed, a door for refrigerators 'is produced which is particularly effective for all of the purposes desired. `The construction is comparatively simple, may be easily made and assembled and when finished presents an attractive appearance while at the same time one which is comletelysanitaryin all respects. The metal ining 2 is porcelain covered so that its outer side 1n the assembled door presents the appearance of white porcelain. The moulding members 6 and 7 from which the wood frame is made, are very quickly and easily produced on a suitable wood working machine. The insulation used with this door is particularly effective serving to check the entrance .of heat through the door to the interior of the refrigerator. This is especially needful in refrigerators wherein the inside tempera-y ture is low, in fact lower than has heretofore been the case with refrigerators where ice alone is used for the refrigerant.

With this invention also an absolutely smooth and unbroken surface of the inner door face is made and the same may be very easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition. These and various other advantages combine to make the door one of value and merit when ap lied to refrigerators. The invention is defihed in the claims appended hereto and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a construction of the class described, a door panel, a border frame adapted to be secured to the inner side of the door panel, said frame being grooved on its inner sides, a metal facing member of pan-like form telescopically arranged interiorly of said frame and provided without-turned flanges at the edges thereof, said flanges seating in the grooves of the frame, and heat insulation-material disposed between 'said door panel and the lining and surrounding frame.

2. In a construction of the class'described, a door panel, an open continuous border frame secured to the iunerside of said panel, said frame at its inner sides belng provided with grooves around its inner sides,

a metal facing member of pan-like form, the sides thereof being formed with outturned flanges around which the border frame is placed, the flanges of the "lining seating in the grooves of said border frame,

heat insulating material disposed between the lining and rear side of the panel and a heat insulating composition covering and surrounding said heat insulating material and completely filling all spaces between said material and the inner sides of the border frame.

3. A facing for a door panel for refrigerators, comprising a metal facing member of pan-like form having out-turned flanges at the side and end edges of the said member, a border frame surrounding said member having grooves at its inner sides to receive said flanges, heat insulating material located within said member and said surrounding frame, and a heat insulating comosition covering and completely surroundmg said heat insulating material and filling the spaces between the said material and the adjacent sides of said member and the border.

4. In combination, a door panel, a facing member for the inner side of said door panel of rectangular pan-like form having the sides and ends thereof provided with outturned flanges, border mouldings each formed with longitudinal grooves at its inner side located against the sides and ends of the facing or lining, said flanges thereof seating in the grooves of said mouldings and the ends of said mouldings being secured together to make an enclosing frame, heat insulating material filling said member and frame, and means for securing said frame to the inner side of the door panel.

5. In combination, a door panel for refrigerators, a metal facing member for the rear side of the door having porcelain baked on its exposed side and comprising a plate of sheet metal having portions at its sides and ends bent inwardly toward the door panel, said portions terminating in outturned flanges, a border frame surrounding said facin member having grooves at rits inner sidies to receive said flanges whereby the flanges of said facing member are located a short`distance from the inner side of the door panel, a block of heat insulating material located Within said facing member, a retaining heat insulating composition covering said blockof heat insulating material and filling all spaces between the same and the inner sides of said frame and the inner sides of the pan, ythe surface thereof lying substantially flush with the outer faces of the border frame, and means for securing 'said border frame to the inner side of the door, the outer faces of the frame lying against the inner side of the door panel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER H. WHITTIER. 

